Dental Implants

Missing teeth can be embarrassing and painful. An incomplete smile can also lead to serious oral health issues.

A dental implant is a titanium post that replaces lost tooth roots to provide exceptional stability for crowns, bridges, and dentures.

So why are dental implants such a great option?

Longevity, Stability,
and Improved Oral Health

Dental Implants Are Built to Last a Lifetime

With proper care, dental implants can last 40 years or longer. While restorations will eventually need to be replaced, your implants can provide lifelong benefits.

Jawbone Retention

Following tooth loss, the jaw will begin to atrophy (shrink). This causes oral health problems in addition to giving your face a sunken, aged look. Implants are the one and only treatment that can stop bone atrophy after tooth loss.

Restored Function and Confidence

Unlike traditional dentures, dental implant-supported dentures will not slip. There’s no repositioning, smacking, or clicking. You can chew rare steak and speak with complete clarity while your dentures stay firmly in place.

However, traditional bridges and dentures cannot stop jawbone atrophy. This is why traditional dentures require frequent relining and adjustments. The cost of these adjustments adds up over time. Implant dentures, on the other hand, help your jaw keep its shape and size, and may require significantly fewer adjustments. Meanwhile, most practices offer low-interest and interest-free financing to make implants affordable on most budgets.

Let’s take a closer look…here are the three primary parts:

How long is it going to take?

Total Treatment Time
Spans Several Months

Tell me about what happens following surgery...

What to Expect
during Recovery

In the days following your surgery, minor bleeding, swelling, and discomfort are normal. Your dentist will provide personalized instructions on how to handle these side effects:

Swelling: Applying ice packs against your cheeks during the first 48 hours can help reduce swelling, discomfort, and bruising. Sleeping with your head elevated can also ease swelling.

To help fight infection, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics and antiseptic mouthwash. Although you should be able to return to work two to three days after surgery, you should avoid strenuous physical activity until you are cleared by your doctor.

Studies have shown that with proper care and regular visits to your dentist, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Proper oral hygiene is also important, but you should carefully and slowly brush the area around the placement sites to avoid irritating your incisions. This is best done with a soft-bristled toothbrush. During this time, it is important to keep your mouth clean and free from food particles that could become trapped in your gums. To get rid of food particles, rinse your mouth out thoroughly after each meal, taking care to let the water fall out of your mouth rather than forcefully spitting.

Your dentist will prescribe a soft food diet for the first few days. Once you are healed, you will be able to enjoy your favorite foods and a varied diet once again.

Long-Term Care

Once you receive your crown, bridge, or dentures, you should continue to brush twice and floss once per day. You should also make biannual visits to the dentist a priority. Studies have shown that with proper care and regular checkups, dental implants can last a lifetime.

What do the final results look like?

Restored Form and Function

Before
—
The integrated dental implant acts as an anchor for a restoration.

After
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With the final restoration in place, the results restore function and look completely natural.

The single most effective way a patient can reduce the risk of dental implant complications is choosing a dentist with the right training, experience, and reputation.

You should expect your surgeon to fully explain all risks and benefits of dental implants during the initial consultation.

Choosing the Right Doctor

By spending just a few minutes online, it's easy to learn how long a dentist has been in practice, how they learned to perform implant procedures, and how other patients feel about the quality of their work.

Meanwhile, a dentist should be willing to spend plenty of time patiently answering your questions and explaining the procedure. Your dentist should also use only high-quality implants and abutments. While more affordable components may save money initially, they may not be as likely to provide long-lasting benefits.

During your consultation, be sure to ask your dentist which brands of implants they offer. Don't hesitate to conduct your own research into the quality and success rates of those brands.

Something to Smile About

Dental implants are a landmark in restorative dentistry that has allowed millions to stop struggling with unstable dentures and other issues. By choosing to replace your lost teeth with implant-supported restorations, you can expect to be able to speak clearly, eat all the foods you love, and smile with pride.

If you have been suffering with an incomplete smile or dentures that you cannot rely on, it's time to learn how dental implants can make your life better. Book a consultation with a dentist today to find out if dental implants are right for you.